AN: I'm glad to see you all like the 'intimate non-gay moment' in the last chapter. (giggles) I lost track of how many times that was quoted back to me. LOL.
This chapter has got some romance to it near the end, for all you fluff freaks. Only a few more chapters to go.
Chapter 19: The Island
They spent several weeks in Omashu, most of which were uneventful, except for when Aang have Zuko a bloody nose with a stray rock. Zuko's appetite returned, and he and Katara seemed to have come to an agreement. Zuko had even been teaching her to use the dual Dao broadswords he owned. Training now consisted of Aang and Bumi with their earth-bending, and Sokka and Katara versus Zuko with the swords. Zuko had gotten recently upset when the sheath for his broadswords had gone missing. And of course, there was the interesting episode where Aang told Zuko to 'chill.' But other than that, uneventful.
Now they were planning to leave within the week, and Bumi was throwing them a farewell feast. Zuko was talking with an earth-bender about battle tactics, Katara was listening intently, Aang was making faces with his food, and Sokka was stuffing his face. It was a normal banquet. At the end, King Bumi had decided to give each of them gifts that might help with their journey.
Aang received a set of earth-bending scrolls to help him advance his skills.
Sokka received a set of broadswords with an intricately tooled sheath. He'd looked at Zuko and grinned. Now they could really train.
Katara received a set of water-bending scrolls and a long knife that could be worn as a sword.
Finally, Bumi called Zuko to him. Zuko looked confused as he crossed the empty floor. Bumi had said that no gift could be found for him. But Bumi had something to say.
"Zuko, you are the prince of the Fire Nation, whether you like it or not. Yesterday, you requested an audience with me. During this meeting, you promised me that if you gain the throne, you will work to restore the balance of the nations, to re-establish the peace that this world once knew. And now, your friends stand beside you with their gifts. You have offered us the gift of peace, what can we offer you? A weapon? You have plenty. Skills? You exceed our best warriors. I offer you something greater, and from our talk yesterday, something you value immensely. My gift to you, Prince Zuko, is trust. The trust of an entire nation. When you take the throne, the Earth Kingdom will be by your side."
Bumi held out his hand, and Zuko shook it firmly.
"Thank you, King Bumi."
The next morning, the gang was rushing around trying to get ready to leave. Zuko had determined that they should leave before the sun got too high, and it had just risen. Katara was stuffing clothes into one bag and supplies into another. Sokka was packing all the weapons and scrolls they'd gotten, and Aang was being stupid. Zuko was desperate to find the sheath for his broadswords.
Suddenly the door opened, revealing a guard. The guard has a brown wrapped bundle in one hand and a letter in the other. He handed both to Zuko and left without a word. Everyone stopped and moved to his side to see them. He opened the letter first, and then cursed.
"I'm going to kill Iroh!" Katara grinned.
"What is it?" He handed the letter to her. This is what it said.
Water Tribes! Earth Kingdom! Air Nomads! And Guerriers Réels!
A banquet will be held at the Réels' estate on Paradis Island the 17th of the 4th month to celebrate…
The Fire Prince Zuko's 18th birthday!
Come and join us, perhaps he will too!
No invitation required.
Host: Iroh, Retired General and Uncle
Katara finished reading it out loud and looked at the stormy look on Zuko's face. She decided not to say anything, but neither Sokka nor Aang was that polite.
"We have to go!"
"Party! Free Food! I'm with Aang!"
"I think you're both insane."
"And I'm with Zuko. This is a formal banquet. What would we wear?"
Aang grinned. "Zuko, it's your 18th birthday party. Why don't you want to go?"
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Fine, we'll go, but don't blame me when we get there."
He then took the moment to open the package as well. It was his sheath, now embroidered with the symbol of the Avatar; the shoulder straps had flames tooled into them. He stared at it in awe for a moment, then grinned. "Ok, this was worth losing it over."
They rejoined Appa at the stables, and Zuko entrusted the horses to Bumi's own stable boys. Black Flame was not happy to see Zuko go, but he calmed after Zuko promised to return soon. So, reunited with Appa and Momo, they set off for Paradis Island later that morning. It was about three day's flight away, which would put them arriving on the 17th, just in time for the banquet. That first day, they avoided three Fire Nation ships, and found what they thought was a deserted island to camp on.
Appa landed on the water and swam to shore. Zuko glanced around as they all got off, and he jumped onto the sand last. For some reason, the place seemed familiar to him. Sokka and Aang headed off into the sparse forest while Katara and Zuko unloaded a few things from Appa. Katara decided to take care of a few things while she had Zuko alone.
"Zuko?" Zuko shouldered a pack and strapped the broadswords on.
"Yes Katara?"
She placed a hand on his arm, demanding his full attention.
"I wanted to apologize for saying that you supported your father's actions. I know that's not true, and I don't think it ever has been."
He smiled lightly.
"Thank you, and I'm sorry as well. I shouldn't have taken your fire-bender comment personally."
She backed away and held out her hand.
"Friends?"
Katara smiled and he returned it, but she missed the mischievous look in his eyes. He started to take her hand.
"Friends."
He grasped her hand lightly, and her smile grew wider. Then his grip tightened and he pulled her into his arms. At first she was stiff with surprise then she wrapped her arms around him, her face nuzzled into his neck.
Their moment was broken by a loud yelp from the forest, which was followed by "Zuko, could you come here?"
Zuko and Katara headed off towards the sound and found Sokka and Aang staring at a formidable beast. It had reptilian scales, leathery wings, a huge mouth full of sharp teeth, and four legs that ended in four five-toed claws.
It was a dragon.
But it wasn't just any dragon, oh no it…
"Sokka, that's a statue. But thanks, now I know why this island seemed familiar to me."
"THAT'S a statue? But it looks so real!"
"You can tell by the eyes. Those dragon's eyes are gray. A real dragon's eyes are gold."
Katara grinned mischievously.
"Then, Zuko, I guess you're a dragon." He looked at her and smiled.
"Yes, Katara, I'm a dragon. You should start running now before my lust for human blood overtakes me." She laughed and Aang grinned.
"Say, Zuko, why is this island familiar to you?"
"Because it's a dragon kennel."
"WHAT!"
"Easy, Sokka, dragons have been extinct for about 90-some years. Don't worry about them."
The group re-gathered itself, and they left the statue behind.
That night, after supper, Zuko told the group about the dragons, at Aang's request.
"Today, people associate dragons with the Fire Nation. But in truth, dragons come from each nation. They were most common in the Fire Nation, Fire Dragons tending to be dark red, gold, or an emerald green. Earth Dragons were the next most common, tending to be gray or a fawn-color, usually with green eyes instead of yellow. Air Dragons were rare, and they were white or silver. Water Dragons were beyond rare, and people would go hundreds of years without seeing one. Before the nations, Dragons and Demons ruled the world. The two constantly fought, for back then, Dragons were sentient beings, and they possessed magic like the Demons did.
By the time humans came to this world, the Dragons were nearly extinct. They'd defeated the Demons somehow, but the final battle had left them battered and weak. The first Fire Lord took it upon himself to restore the Dragons to power. He thought the Dragons were beautiful. That's why the dragon symbol is so important to the Fire Nation.
But try as we did, setting up kennels, treating wounds, caring for young, the Dragons never really regained their former power. Their magic faded, and speech went with it. But they always felt a connection to people. Dragons would Bond with people of their element, usually benders. It was always mutual, and every emotion was shared between the two.
People forgot the mutual bond between Dragons and humans, and took advantage of the Dragons' power. Fire Lord Solzen sent what he called his Dragon Knights with the first wave of the war. None of them came back. Every Dragon was killed, or so we believe, for no one has seen one since that first battle. It was a great loss, but no one ever thought about it, and that is what makes it truly terrible. We forgot about the Dragons and all that they did for us."
Aang nodded. "I remember Dragons. There was one that lived at the Southern Air Temple with us. Her name was Akierin. I wonder what happened to her."
Zuko sighed. "It's just one more thing to blame on my ancestors."
After that, the conversation sort of died away. Sokka and Aang called it a night, and fell asleep in the dying fire light.
Zuko stoked the fire and Katara watched the embers. They flared and softened repetitively, and Katara looked at Zuko, who was watching them intensely.
"Zuko?"
"Hmm?"
"Just let it burn."
"Oh, okay."
"Zuko?"
"Hmm?"
"Why'd you hug me like you did earlier?"
"I wanted to."
"Would you do it again?"
Zuko shifted, pulling her into his arms and holding her. She relaxed in his arms for a moment, then pulled slowly away. He let her go. "Thank you."
They sat facing each other, soft blue eyes meeting firm golden ones. Katara placed her hand over Zuko's, and Zuko started to lean in. Their eyes fluttered closed, Katara tilting her head up, waiting for it while her mind and instinct screamed no. She could feel his breath now, and her heart leapt.
"NO! DON'T LET THEM EAT ME!"
They jerked apart as Sokka snapped straight up. Sokka stared at them and they stared back. He then brought his hands up into claws and looked at them.
"Mutant tree frogs are taking over the world."
"Go back to sleep Sokka."
"Ok." And then he conked out again.
Katara looked back at Zuko hopefully, but he was staring at the ground, playing with a blade of grass. When he noticed she was looking at him, he coughed slightly.
"Here, I have something for you." He said, pulling his bag over to them. "I bought it for you a while ago, don't know why, maybe…" he paused, realizing he was rambling. "Here."
He handed her a package, wrapped in brown paper. Katara opened it slowly and carefully.
It was the red kimono.
"Oh Zuko." She moaned, holding it up. It looked even more radiant than it had the last time she'd seen it. She grinned.
"I'll wear it to your birthday banquet." He smiled, saying nothing and staring at the ground. They sat in silence for a few more moments, both at a loss for words. Then Katara carefully folded the kimono and rewrapped it.
"I think I'm going to go bathe now." Zuko nodded.
"Call if you need me."
She grabbed her stuff, nodded, and headed off towards the stream.
He watched the intruders and contemplated. A son of fire, a son of wind, and a daughter and son of water. Is it worth it? He'd been alone so long, his companions dead with their Bondmates. So few knew that the relationship between Bonded Dragons and their humans was so close, so intimate, that they would die whenever the other did. So, as their Bondmates went to war and fought for their country, their lives were lost and their Dragons died beside them. And he was left alone; because he'd been so stupid as to believe that to Bond oneself to a human, forsaking immortality, was foolish. But eternity was empty, unless you had someone to spend it with.
Now he watched the daughter of water slip into the stream, her naked body telling his experienced eye that she was just reaching maturity. He'd also seen and felt the affection for her that the son of fire harbored. Is it worth it? He'd asked himself that over the centuries. The answer he had yet to find out. And there was only one way to find out.
He waited until the daughter of water stood and stepped out of the stream, dried herself, and dressed. She then began to call the water, streaming it around her. She was so caught up that at first, she didn't notice when he stepped into the clearing.
Katara pulled the stream around in front of her, watching it curl and uncurl around her. And then she looked up and the water stopped, suspended in midair by her hands. Impossible. The great beast was a beautiful emerald green, its wings unfurled above its head, and hard yellow eyes bored into hers. Her body froze, locked by its gaze.
Apparently, Dragons weren't extinct after all.
Crud...now I'm going to go work on a birthday present. ya'll review now.